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Who is exempt from online filing

A small number of employers have the option of sending payroll submissions to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) either online or on paper. If you think you may be exempt and wish to file on paper, write to HMRC with full details for your application to be considered.

Religious grounds

Practising members of religious societies or orders whose beliefs are incompatible with the use of electronic methods of communication are exempt from online filing requirements.

Provision of care or support services at or from the home

If you are employing someone providing care or support services at or from your home, the following conditions must be met. The:

care or support services must be provided to the employer or a member of their family

recipient of the services must have a physical or mental disability, or be elderly or infirm

employer must be filing their return themselves, not having someone else (such as a relative or accountant) file it on their behalf

Who is considered unable to file online

In exceptional circumstances, where HMRC is satisfied that the following applies, they will provide an alternative channel for these employers to submit their PAYE returns. You:

will have significant difficulty in using an online channel

are unable to use an online channel

Exceptional circumstances

HMRC expects all employers - other than care and support employers and those with religious objections as mentioned above - to submit PAYE in real time online.

However there may be a small number of employers for whom HMRC accepts that it will be difficult to meet this online obligation. Employers:

with a disability which prevents them from using computers

who cannot access an internet connection, including ‘dial up’

who are elderly and are unable to use an online channel

There are also a small number of employees who are obliged to report their own PAYE to HMRC on behalf of their employer, such as UK employees working for an employer that is based abroad. HMRC expects these employees to file online except where exceptional circumstances apply, for example, where they are unable to or will have significant difficulty in filing online.

If you think you meet the above criteria, you should contact HMRC. They will send you information about:

how you can best access an online digital channel

responding to HMRC if, having followed their advice, you still have difficulties accessing an online channel

Each case will be considered on its own merits. HMRC will therefore expect you to demonstrate why you are unable to use an online channel to submit your returns to HMRC and why you can’t use a third party to submit PAYE in real time on your behalf.

Where HMRC is satisfied that the above criteria are met, you’ll be offered an alternative channel to deliver that information for a limited period. HMRC’s intention is that this option will only remain in place until April 2017.

During this period HMRC will review each case and expect employers to take steps to ensure that, once the period comes to an end, they will be able to submit their PAYE in real time to HMRC online or will have arranged for a third party to do so on their behalf.

How to file on paper

Employers exempt from filing, and those for whom HMRC has agreed that they aren’t required to file returns online, can file paper returns quarterly. Exempt employers may still choose to send PAYE information online in real time.

HMRC will send the forms and guidance to you - they’re not available from HMRC’s website. They are only available from the Employer Orderline to those employers who HMRC have agreed can use paper forms.

You should tell your employees that you are a paper filing employer. They’ll need to know this if they claim Universal Credit - as they will need to report their earnings to the Department for Work and Pensions themselves.